When one thinks of iconic modern architecture in the Sunshine City, one name stands head and shoulders above all others. Harvard Jolly. The firm is known for amazing and unique modern architecture including the inverted pyramid St. Petersburg Pier, Pasadena Community Church, and the Williams Park Band Shell and Pavilion which was a recipient of the Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects. Other recognizable local works are The Tides Hotel, Derby Lane, Central Library on 9th Avenue N, and Hospitality House at Busch Gardens. Most of the world-renowned architectural firm’s designs are commercial and institutional masterpieces. There are but a few Harvard Jolly residential designs in and around St Petersburg. The Willingham House, located in St Pete’s “Pink Streets”, is one of these rare inhabitable works of art. The very unique dodecagon (12 sided) house that Al Willingham had designed and constructed for his wife, Eleanor, has quite a story attached to it. Rumor has it that Mrs. Willingham was quite eclectic and demanded something that the Sunshine City had never seen before. Bored with the many single-story, rectangular, masonry, Ranch-style homes with small windows and confined rooms that seemed to be taking over the city in 1970, she challenged her husband to create something super-special for her. She wanted her home in the Sunshine State, in the Sunshine City, and to be constructed on Sunshine Drive S. and to be full of character, space, and of course - sunshine! So in August of 1970, Al Willingham accepted his wife’s challenge and began his journey. Mr. Willingham was not just a normal husband, he was an architect, and he just so happened to work for the architectural firm that was in the early conceptual stages of designing one of the most iconic pier structures in the entire world. Maybe his wife knew something of the secret St Petersburg Pier design, or maybe it is just that her timing was impeccable, as the creative juices were surely flowing at Harvard Jolly in the early 70’s. Whatever the case, a true work of unique and modern art sits at 7117 Sunshine Drive S. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience what Eleanor Willingham experienced when she first walked into her amazing custom residential masterpiece – a voluminous and bright home unlike anything else in the Sunshine City. Recent improvements include: roof 2021, service panel 2021, tankless water heater 2023, HVAC with UV 2024, electrical and plumbing upgrades 2024, large climate-controlled garage/workshop installed 2024, plus many more upgrades and improvements over the past few years.
